Se Cathedral, Goa

Se Cathedral which took around 62 years for its construction is an impressive building, commissioned in the year 1631. This church is devoted to St Catherine of Alexandria because Alfonso de Albuquerque a Portuguese sailor was of the belief that he could emerge victorious in the battle against Muslim army in the year 1510 on the feast day of the saint, since the Portuguese army had the blessings of the saint. Actually the church has been built on a site were a mosque used to exist. Mosque was demolished and a church was constructed on that place.

The building of church exhibits half Tuscan and half Doric style of exteriors thus presenting an enchanting view, while the interiors are designed in the architectural style of Mosiac-Cornithion style. The North tower got collapsed in the year 1776 after it got struck by lightning and was not rebuilt. South tower now also has the famous ‘golden bell’.